Can inadequate water intake cause bladder cancer?
Water is one of the most integral components that account for approximately 60% of the body weight in any individual. The human body cannot function optimally without sufficient water or food. Water is essential to maintain normal day-to-day activities. Water can be obtained from various food sources, but this isn’t enough to fulfil the body’s fluid requirement. Therefore, it is estimated that people need to drink at least two to three litres of water per day. This figure may change according to the individual’s body weight and gender. Men, on average, need a slightly higher intake of water than women. However, there are exceptions to this rule, as different weather conditions, physical activity, and individual health conditions may affect the required amount. But can inadequate fluid or water intake cause any serious medical conditions, such as bladder cancer? This article will discuss the effect that low water intake has on the bladder and more.
Dehydration
Many people believe that their water intake is sufficient, but dehydration is more common than you think. The effects of dehydration aren’t as obvious as one would expect. Drinking water or fluids helps the body to wash out toxins and bodily waste. Usually, a person expels this ‘waste water’ through natural processes, such as sweating and urination. In addition, water can be expelled through physical activity or illness. Dehydration has a significant negative effect on the bladder. It can cause a number of conditions, such as urinary tract infections and kidney stones, and sometimes may even cause urinary incontinence.
How can dehydration occur? This may happen not just by insufficient water intake. If a person expels more water than what can be replaced by their consumption, this may lead to dehydration. The consumption of medication or diuretics can also result in this condition. Alcoholic drinks can also have a similar effect to that of diuretics. Alcohol causes more fluids to be expelled from the body; therefore, cutting down on alcohol intake would be a good step to take. Another factor that would be beneficial to the body is to consume foods such as fruits and vegetables. This nutrient-rich food also contains a high volume of water and can help with preventing dehydration. But it must be noted that drinking adequate water is the ideal way to ensure that you are receiving proper hydration.
Bladder cancer and dehydration
As mentioned previously, proper hydration assists with flushing out any toxins and cancer-causing chemicals from staying in your bladder for too long. But if this flushing does not occur, this means there is a good chance that your bladder will start to accumulate a large volume of waste and toxins that may contribute to the development of bladder cancer. Some of the common carcinogens that are known to be associated with the development of bladder cancer in Singapore are arsenic and the by-products of chlorination. Several studies have been carried out to establish the relationship between fluid consumption and bladder cancer. Although consistent results have not been found, it is safe to state that low water intake does pose a risk for the development of bladder cancer.
Low water intake and other effects
Not only does low water intake put you at risk of bladder cancer, but it can also cause irritation to your bladder as accumulated concentrated urine has the potential to irritate the lining of the bladder. In addition, discomfort and pain may present with dehydration. These symptoms can mimic another condition: bladder infection. However, there is potential for a true bladder infection to occur as well. This occurs because when you don’t urinate enough (as a result of a low water intake), bacteria begin to multiply, and an infection is developed. However, in some cases, bladder irritation may also cause you to micturate more often. This may result in urge incontinence (bladder leaks) in some patients and may also trigger inflammation — interstitial cystitis. Therefore, the more you drink, the more you are able to urinate — less risk of infections and cancer!
As mentioned earlier, kidney stones are another common concern that may result from not drinking sufficient water. But how do kidney stones develop? This occurs when concentrated urine collects and builds up in the kidneys. This build-up creates clumps of waste that are known as kidney stones. Drinking adequate water can help mitigate this situation and keep your kidneys functioning well.
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